Brake and sanding control equipment



April 1940- B. s. AIKMAN .198.022

BRAKE AND SANDING CONTROL EQUIPMENT Original Filed Nov. 24, 1957 Z'Sheets-Sheet 1 49 [a /0/06 425/08 //6 F Z 05 INVENTOR BURTONSAIK MAN WW4, w

ATTORNEY April 23, 1940.

B. S. AIKMAN BRAKE AND SANDING CONTROL EQUIPMENT Original Filed Nov. 24, 1957' /III////////// 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BURTON SAIKMAN BY W Q AT'IEORNEY Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRAKE AND SANDmG CONTROL EQUIPMENT Original application November 24, 1937, Serial No. 176,184. Divided and this application December 28, 1938, Serial No. 248,071

11 Claims.

This invention relates to brake and sanding control equipment for vehicles, such as railway cars and trains, and is a division of my prior and copending application, Serial No. 7 filed November 24, 1937 issued as Patent No. 2,160,189 May 30, 1939.

As is well understood by those skilled in the art, the application of the brakes to a. car wheel with a braking force sufiicient to exceed the adhesion or rolling friction between the Wheel and the road surface or track rail on which it rolls causes the wheel to decelerate rapidly toward a non-rotative or locked-wheel state. When a wheel rotates at a speed less than that corresponding to the rail speed or travelling speed of the car having the wheel, it is said to slip. If the wheel is dragged along the rail while locked against rotation by the brakes it is said to slide. The terms slip and "slide as employed herein accordingly refer to a rotating and a non-rotating condition of a wheel, respectively, and the significance of the two terms should be kept in mind.

It has been demonstrated that if the brakes on a slipping vehicle wheel are rapidly released to a substantial degree at the instant a wheel begins to slip, the wheel will cease to decelerate and begin to accelerate back toward a speed corresponding to vehicle speed without reducing in speed to a locked or non-rotative state and sliding.

Various brake control arrangements have been proposed for rapidly releasing the brakes on a slipping wheel so as to cause it to return to vehicle speed without actually sliding.

My present invention includes a brake control arrangement of this character wherein the fluid under pressure acting on the usual pressure side of a brake cylinder piston is equalized into the space within the brake cylinder at the usual nonpressure side of thepiston so as to effect a rapid release of the brakes when slipping of a vehicle wheel occurs.

According to my present invention, the reapplication of the brakes on a slipping wheel is effected automatically only after the wheel returns fully to a speed corresponding to vehicle speed, the reapplication being effected by exhausting fluid under pressure from the usual nonpressure side of the brake cylinder piston.

: This fluid under pressure would ordinarily be wasted but, according to my present invention, I propose to utilize the fluid under pressure released from the usual non-pressure side of the brake cylinder piston to eiiect sanding of the rails adjacent the slipping wheel, .thereby increasing the adhesion between the wheel and the rail and lessening the likelihood of recurrence of slipping of the wheel. This arrangement is highly economical of air and sand, since no additional air is required to cause sanding and since sanding does not occur until it is needed, that is, until the reapplication of the brakes is being effected and not before.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a brake and sanding control equipment wherein a brake control device and a sanding device are cooperatively related in a novel manner to obtain high economy of air and sand.

More specifically, it is an object of my inven-' tion to equalize the fluid under pressure on the usual pressure side of a brake cylinder piston into the space within the brake cylinder at the usual non-pressure side of the brake cylinder piston so as to effect rapid release of the brakes when wheel slipping occurs and then utilizing the fluid under pressure exhausted from the usual non-pressure side of the brake cylinder piston when effecting reapplication of the brakes, to cause. sanding of the road or rail adjacent the slipping wheel.

The above objects, and other objects of my invention which will be made apparent herein after, are obtained by means of an embodiment of my invention subsequently to be described and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, with parts thereof in section, illustrating one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing, in further detail, the construction of the brake cylinder fragmentarily shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another embodiment of my invention including a rail sanding device, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on the lines 44 and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. 3.

Description of embodiment shown in Fig. 1

The equipment shown in Fig. 1 comprises a brake cylinder l l for applying brake shoes, not shown, to one or more car wheels I2 only one of which is shown, a reservoir l3 hereinafter referred to as the main reservoir, 2. self-lapping brake valve device M for controlling the supply of fiuid under pressure from the main reservoir l3 to the brake cylinder I l and the release of fluid under presure from the brake cylinder, for

brakes.

According to my invention, the equipment further includes a valve unit I 5 preferably embodied in a casing provided with a flange ll adapted to be bolted to the end of the brake cylinder H in place of the usual pressure head, and a governor-operated valve mechanism l9, associated with the axle 2| of the vehicle wheel l2, for controlling the operation of the valve unit |6.

Considering the parts of the equipment in greater detail, the brake cylinder comprises a main tubular portion 23 having flanges at the opposite ends thereof to one of which the flange I! of the valve unit casing is attached and to the other of which an end cover 26 is suitably secured as by bolts not shown, gaskets 25 being provided for sealing the joints between the parts against leakage. Contained and reciprocative in the tubular portion 23 of the brake cylinder is a brake cylinder piston 27 of any suitable construction which has attached thereto a hollow stem 28 for receiving a push rod 29 therein in the usual manner, the push rod 29 being connected through suitable brake rigging levers to the brake shoes for effecting application of the brake shoes to the rim of the vehicle wheels 12 upon movement of the brake cylinder piston 2"? in the left-hand direction in response to an increase of fluid presure in chamber 32 on the right-hand or pressure side of the piston.

The usual release spring 3| is interposed between the piston 27 and the end cover 24 for effecting the return of the piston 21 in the righthand direction to cause release of the brakes upon the release of fluid under pressure from the chamber 32 at the pressure side of the piston, or upon substantial equalization of the pressures on opposite sides of the brake cylinder piston. A suitable annular packing gasket 33 is associated with the stem 28 of the piston 27 to prevent leakage of fluid under pressure from a chamber 34 at the left-hand or usual non-pressure side of the piston 27 through the opening in the end cover 24 in which the stem 28 is guided.

The brake cylinder i further comprises a pipe or conduit 36 which extends in adjacent parallel relation to the tubular portion 23 of the brake cylinder and which connects ports 3'! in the flanges at the opposite ends of the tubular portion 23. The port 31 in one flange registers with a passage 38 in the end cover 24 which opens into the chamber 34 at the non-pressure side of the brake cylinder piston 21', and the port 31 in the opposite flange registers with a passage 39 in the casing of the valve unit H5.

The self-lapping brake valve device I4 is preferably of the type described in the Patent 2,042,112 of Ewing K. Lynn and Rankin J. Bush. Since reference may be had to the above-men tioned patent for the details of construction of the brake valve device I4, it is deemed sufficient for the purposes of the present application to understand only that brake valve l4 comprises an operating handle 4| which is normally in a brake release position and which is operative out of its normal position, in a horizontal plane through an arc, referred to as the application zone, to varying degrees to eflect operation of self-lapping valve means to establish a pressure in a pipe 42 leading to the valve unit |B which cor-responds substantially to the degree of displacement of the handle from its normal brake release position. It should be kept in mind that the self-lapping brake valve device I4 is in the nature of a pressure-maintaining device, that is, it is effective to maintain a pressure in the pipe 32, corresponding to the degree of displacement of the handle 4| from its normal release position, in the event of leakage from the pipe 42.

The valve unit i6 comprises a so-oalled release and re-application valve device 44, a charging valve device 45 and a pressure-maintaining valve device 46.

The release and reapplication valve device 44 comprises a piston 48 having at one side a piston chamber 49 and at the opposite side a slide valve chamber 5! in which is contained a slide valve 52 operated by movement of the piston through the medium of a stem 53 of the piston. A spring 50, interposed between the piston 48 and the casing in the piston chamber 49, yieldingly urges the piston in the right-hand direction to a normal position determined by the engagement of the piston with a shoulder 54': formed in the slide valve chamber 5|.

The slide valve chamber 5| is constantly connected to the chamber 32 at the pressure side of the brake cylinder piston 21 by a relatively large passage 55. With the piston 48 in its normal position as shown, the slide valve 52 is positioned to connect the passage 39, which opens at the seat of the slide Valve, to an exhaust port 56 through a cavity 51 in the slide valve. When the slide valve 52 is shifted in the left-hand direction a maximum extent, the exhaust port 56 is lapped and the passage 39 is uncovered and opened to the slide valve chamber 5|, thereby establishing communication between the chamber 32 on the pressure side of the brake cylinder piston and the chamber 34 on the usual nonpressure side of the piston by way of the passage 55, slide valve chamber 5|, passage 39, and pipe 36.

The piston 48 has a restricted port 58 therein through which fluid under pressure may flow from the slide valve chamber 5| to the piston chamber GQ-to charge chamber 49 with fluid under pressure for the purpose to be hereinafter made clear.

Aflixed to or formed integral with the piston 48 is a pin valve 5| which engages a cooperating valve seat formed in the casing of the valve unit 16 and thereby limits the movement of the piston .8 in the left-hand direction against the force of the spring 56. The pin valve 6| controls communication through a port 64 between the chamber 32 on the pressure side of the brake cylinder piston 2'! and a chamber 63, the chamber 63 being supplied with fluid under pressure under the control of the maintaining valve device 45 in the manner to be presently described. The purpose of the pin valve 6| will be made apparent hereinafter.

The slide valve chamber 5| is normally open to a supply passage 65 past a one-way or check valve 66 which is provided with a plurality of grooves 5'! around the periphery thereof to enable flow of fluid under pressure from the supply passage 65 to the slide valve chamber 5| past the valve 66 through a bore 58 in which the valve 66 is guided.

With the piston #38 in its normal right-hand position, as shown, the end of the stem 53 of the piston engages the valve 66 and unseats it from an associated annular rib seat 69 against the yielding resisting force of a coil spring 1|. When the piston 43 is shifted in the lefthand direction a distance which is insuiflcient for the slide valve 52 to uncover the passage 39, the check valve 56 is seated on the annular rib seat 69 by the spring 7|, thus preventing the supply of fluid under pressure'from the supply passage to the slide valve chamber 5|.

The supply passage 65 opens into a chamber I3 in the casing of the valve unit to which the pipe 42 from the brake valve device I4 is connected. Accordingly, when the brake valve I4 is operated to supply fluid under pressure into the pipe 42, fluid under pressure flows from the pipe 42 into the chamber I3 and thence to the chamber 32 on the pressure side of the brake cylinder piston 2! by way of the supply passage 65, past the unseated check valve 66, slide valve chamber 5| and passage 55.

The restricted port 58 in the piston 48 is too small to enable rapid equalization of the pressure in the piston chamber 49 and slide valve chamber 5| and, accordingly, the charging valve device 45 is provided for supplying fluid under pressure from the chamber 78 and the supply pipe 42 to the piston chamber 49 as rapidly as it is supplied to the slide valve chamber 5 I.

The charging valve device 45 comprises a valve piston 75, including a pin valve I6, and a coil spring II interposed between the valve piston I5 and the casing for yieldingly urging the valve piston upwardly and causing the pin valve 16 to seat on an associated valve seat formed in the casing. When the pin valve I6 is unseated it establishes communication through a port I9 from a chamber I8 to a passage 8| leading to the piston chamber 49. The chamber I8 is constantly connected to the chamber I3 through a passage 82 and thus, when the pin valve '56 is unseated, fluid under pressure is supplied from the pipe 42 to the piston chamber 49.

The valve piston 15 has a head or flange conforming closely in cross-sectional area to that of the chamber I3 and interposed between the supply pipe 42 and the supply passage 65. Fluid under pressure supplied into the chamber 13 from the supply pipe 42 may thus flow only at a restricted rate, past the head of the valve piston 15, to the supply passage 65 and, accordingly, a pressure differential is built up on the valve piston I5 which causes it to be actuated downwardly against the'yielding force of the spring 17. As the valve piston I5 moves downwardly, the head of the valve piston moves into a portion of the chamber 73 of larger cross-sectional area, thereby permitting a more rapid flow of fluid under pressure past the head of the valve piston from the supply pipe 42 to the supply passage 65.. At the same time, downward movement of the valve piston 75 unseats the pin valve I6 and thus fluid under pressure is simultaneously rapidly supplied from the supply pipe 42 to the slide valve chamber 5| and to piston chamber 49 on opposite sides of the piston 48.

It will thus be clear that under normal circumstances, the piston 48 remains in the righthand position shown, under the influence of the spring 56, during an application of the brakes because the fluid pressure is built up at a substantially uniform rate on opposite sides of the piston.

The pressure maintaining valve device 46 comprises a piston 84 which is suitably guided in a bore 85 formed in the casing of the valve unit I6 and which is yieldingly urged in the righthand direction by a coil spring 86 at one side thereof to effect unseating of a poppet valve 81 contained in a chamber 88 into which the supply passage 65 opens. When the poppet valve 81 is unseated, it establishes communication therepast through a port 69, in which the fluted stem'of the valve 81 is guided, to a chamber 9| at the side of the piston 84 opposite to the spring 86. Chamber 9| is connected through a passage 92 to the chamber 63 previously referred The coil spring 86 is so designed and so tensioned that when the pressure of the fluid supplied from the passage 65 past the valve 81 into the chamber 9| and acting on the piston 84 attains a certain pressure, such as thirty pounds per square inch, the spring 86 is overcome and the piston 8! is shifted in the left-hand direction. As a result, the poppet valve 81 is seated under the influence of a biasing spring 93 to close off the further supply of fluid under pressure from the passage 65 to the chamber 9|. Since the chamber SI of the maintaining valve device 46 is connected to the chamber 32 on the pressure side of the brake cylinder piston 21 by way of the passage 92, chamber 63 and port 64, it will be apparent that with the pin valve 6| unseated, fluid may be supplied from the supply passage 65 to the chamber 32 on the pressure side of brake cylinder piston 21 until the pressure in chamber 32 attains the pressure determined by the setting of the maintaining valve device 46.

It is intended that the pressure at which the poppet valve 81 of the maintaining valve device 46 is seated to close ed the supply of pressure from the supply passage 65 to the chamber 32 on the pressure side of the brake cylinder piston be selected suffilciently low as to be ineffective to cause slipping or sliding of the car wheels and, at the same time, provide suflicient pressure to bring the car to a stop. The functions of the maintaining valve device 46 will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The governor-operated valve mechanism I9 is provided for eifecting a rapid release of fluid under pressure from the piston chamber 49 of the valve unit I6 when the vehicle Wheel I2 begins to slip. The governor mechanism I9 comprises a casing including an annular portion -I6I which is keyed or otherwise suitably fixed to the inner reduced end of the hub of the vehicle I2 that is pressed on or keyed to the outer end of the axle 2|. Suitably formed in the casing portion IOI at diametrically opposite sides of the axle 2| are cylinders I62 and I63, each of which contains a pair of oppositely facing pistons I64 and I65 between which is interposed a coil spring I66 that yieldingly urges the pistons I64 and I65 in opposite directions. A pin valve I68 is formed on or attached to the outer face of each of the pistons I65 and is normally urged into seated re-.

laticn on a cooperating valve seat. When the pin valves I66 are unseated, they establish communication through which fluid under pressure may be exhausted from a passage I69 in the axle 2|. As will be seen in Fig. 1, the passage I69 has two branches III] which open into the inner end of the cylinders I62 and I63 respectively, the space between the pistons I65 and the end of the cylinders being constantly. open to atmosphere through a port III.

The passage I69 .in the axle 2| is constantly connected to the passage 8| and piston chamber 46 in the casing of valve unit I6 by a flexible conduit or pipe II3. As will be seen in Fig. 1, one end of the conduit H3 is connected to passage 8! in the casing of the valve unit I6 and the other end is connected to a passage H8 in an end cover II5 which is secured to the ball-bear-' ing housing II6 associated with the end of the axle 2|. The end cover H5 is provided with a counterbore 1.11 which is open to the end of the axle 2| at one end, the opposite end being open to passage H3. Contained in the counterbore II! is a piston I2! which carries a self-lubricating packing or gland I22, in the form of a cylinder of carbon or other suitable material. The packing I22 has a central passage I23 therein which registers at one end with the passage I09 in the axle 2| and at the opposite end with a central passage I24 in piston I2I.

It will seen that when fluid under pressure is supplied to the passage 8| of the valve unit i0, it flows through the conduit |I3 to the face of the piston I2| and exerts a force thereon to press the packing I22 against the end of the axle I2| to maintain a seal therewith against leakage of fluid under pressure as supplied through the passages I24 and I23 in the piston and packing, respectively, to the passage I09 to the axle. When pressure on the piston I2I is released, the packing is not pressed to the end of the axle and thus no wear on the packing occurs except when the piston is subject to pressure.

The governor mechanism further comprises a pair of weighted levers I21 and I28, similar in form to bell-crank levers, and pivoted at the fulcrum thereof on pins or shafts I29 that are supported in suitable yokes on the end of the annular portion I0! of the casing. One arm of each of the levers I21 and I28 is weighted at the outer end thereof, and the two weighted arms are yieldingly biased or urged toward each other by a pair of coil springs |3| located on opposite sides of the axle 2|, only one of the springs |3| being shown. Each of the springs I3| is secured at opposite ends to pins I32 in the outer end of the weighted arms of the levers I21 and I28.

The end of the other arm of the levers I21 and I28 is connected by a universal joint to the end of a stem I34 of the piston I04 in the cylinders I02 and I03, respectively.

Thus, when the weighted arms of the levers I21 and I28 move outwardly from the axle with an increase in the speed of rotation of the car wheel I2 and axle 2|, the pistons I04 are shifted in the right-hand direction. Conversely, when the weighted arms of the levers I21 and I28 move inwardly toward the axle 2| with a decrease in the speed of rotation of the wheel I2 and axle 2|, the pistons are shifted in the left-hand direction.

Each piston I04 is provided with a restricted port I35 which restricts the rate of flow of air at atmospheric pressure from the chamber I35 in the casing of the governor mechanism to the space between itself and its associated piston I05, when the piston I04 moves in the left-hand direction as seen in Fig. 1.

The size of the port I35 in the piston I04 is such that if the car wheel I2 and axle 2| reduce in speed rotatively at a rate of change not exceeding a certain normal rate, air at atmospheric pressure may flow from the chamber I through the port I to the space between the pistons I04 and I05 rapidly enough to prevent the creation of a partial vacuum in the space between the pistons. If, however, the car wheel I2 and car axle 2| reduce in speed at a rate exceeding the normal rate, as when the car wheel I2 slips, that is, decelerates from. a speed corresponding to vehicle speed toward the locked-wheel state while the car is still in motion, a partial vacuum will be created in the space between the pistons I04 and I05 due to the restriction of the port I35 to the fiowof air at atmospheric pressure into the space between the pistons I04 and I05. Sincethe outer face of the pistons I05 are subject to atmospheric pressure through the port I I, the pistons I05 are accordingly shifted in the left-hand direction, against the yielding resistance of spring I 06, to unseat the pin valves I08, upon the creation of sufficient partial vacuum in the space between pistons I04 and I05.

It will thus be seen that the governor mechanism I9 functions normally, as long as the car wheel I2 does not slip, to maintain the pin valves I 08 seated and is efiective, only when the car wheel I2 slips, to efiect unseating of the pin valves I03 to release fluid under pressure from the passage I09 in the axle |2| and correspondingly from the passage 8| and piston chamber 49 of the valve unit I6.

Operation of embodiment shown in Fig. 1

Assuming that the main reservoir I3 is charged to the normal pressure carried therein from a fluid compressor not shown, and that the car or train is traveling along the road with the handle 4| of the brake valve device I4 in brake releasing position so that the brakes are correspondingly released, the operator may effect an application of the brakes by shifting the handle 4| of brake valve device I4 into the application zone to eiiect an application of the brakes. der pressure is accordingly supplied from the reservoir I3 into the supply pipe 42 and thence to the chamber 32 on the pressure side of the brake cylinder piston 21 by way of chamber 13, passage 65, past the unseated check valve -66, slide valve chamber 5| and passage 55. As previously pointed out, the charging valve device 45 operates to supply fiuid under pressure from chamber 13 to the piston chamber 49 to equalize the pressures in the piston chamber 49 and slide valve chamber 5| and thus maintain the piston 48 and slide valve 52 in the position shown, wherein the chamber 34 at the usual non-pressure side of the brake cylinder piston 21 is vented to atmosphere by way of the passage 30, pipe 36, passage 39, cavity 51 in slide valve 52 and exhaust port 59.

Fluid under pressure is also supplied from pas sage 05 to the chamber 32 at the pressure side of the brake cylinder piston 21 past the unseated valve 81 of the pressure maintaining valve device 5 46, through the bore 89, chamber 9|, passage 92,

pressure of the fluid in chamber 9| to effect seat- 1 ing of the valve 81 to cut off the further supply of fluid under pressure therepast to the chamber 32.

Assuming that car wheel I2 does not slip, a pressure will be established in the chamber 32 at the pressureside of the brake cylinder piston 21 which corresponds to the degree of displacement of the operating handle 4| of the self-lapping brake valve device I4 out of its normal release position, and the brakes will be applied to a corresponding degree.

If it is desired to release the brakes, the operator merely returns the operating handle 4| of the brake valve device I4 to release position. Fluid under pressure is thus exhausted from the chamber 32 of the brake cylinder by reverse flow to the brake valve device I4 and thence to atmosphere by way of the usual exhaust port in the brake valve device I4. Whenever the pressure in the chamber 32 of the brake cylinder drops below Fluid unthe setting of the pressure maintaining valve device 46, the valve 81 will be unseated and fluid will be thereafter released from the chamber 32 also past the valve 81.

Since it was assumed that the car Wheel I2 did not slip duringthe application of the brakes, it will be obvious that the pin valves I98 of the governor valve mechanism I9 will remain seated while the car decelerates under the application of the brakes. If the car wheel I2 begins to slip, however, while the brakes are applied as previously described, the governor mechanism I9 operates in the manner previously described to cause the pin valves I98 to unseat and thus exhaust fluid under pressure from the passage H19 in the axle 2! and from the passage SI and piston chamber 49 of the valve unit I6. The charging valve is unseated to supply fluid under pressure to the piston chamber 49 only so long as the pressure in the supply pipe 42 is increasing and operates to reseat the valve I6 when the pressure in the supply pipe 42 is established at a desired value and no further increase of the pressure in pipe 42 occurs. Accordingly, when the pin valves I08 of the governor mechanism H9 are unseated, the piston chamber 49 is rapidly vented to atmosphere and, consequently, the piston 48 is shifted in the left-hand direction by the higher pressure in the slide valve chamber 5i against the yielding resisting force of the spring 59 until the pin valve 6| seats to close the port 64 connecting the chamber 53 to the chamber 32 on the pressure side of the brake cylinder piston.

The check valve 55 is thereupon seated to cut oil the further supply of fluid under pressure from the supply passage 55 into the slide valve chamber 5i, and thus to the chamber 32 of the brake cylinder, and the slide valve 52 is shifted to lap the exhaust port 56 and to uncover the passage 39 to establish communication between the chamber 32 on the pressure side of the brake cylinder piston and the chamber 34 on the usual non-pressure side of the brake cylinder piston. Fluid under pressure is accordingly supplied from the chamber 32 to the chamber 94 by way of the passage 55, slide valve chamber 5I, passage 39, pipe 36, and passage 38 until the pressures in the two chambers equalize.

When the pressures in the two chambers 32 and 541 are substantially equalized, the release spring 9| shifts the brake cylinder piston 21 in the right-hand direction into its release position shown and thus causes the pressure applying the .brake shoes to the wheel I2 to be immediately relieved. Equalization of the pressures in the chambers 32 and 34 takes place sufficiently rapidly that the brakes are released from the car wheel I2 before the car wheel can decelerate, while slipping, to the locked-wheel state. Thus, before the car wheel I2 can attain the lockedwheel state and slide, it is accelerated back toward a speed corresponding to vehicle speed due to the immediate and rapid release of the brakes.

If the pin valves: I98 of the governor mechanism I9 are not already seated due to the destruction of the partial vacuum in the space be tween the pistons I04 and I95 by the of air at atmospheric pressure through the port I35 in piston there'of, causes the valves I08 to seat and thus" close off the exhaust of fluid under pressure from the passages I99 and 8| and the piston chamber 49 of the valve unit I6.

After a predetermined time, determined by the size of the restricted port 58 in the piston 48, the pressure of the fluid in the slide valve chamber 5| equalizes with that in the piston chamber 49 by flow through the port 58. Thereupon the spring 59 becomes effective to shift the piston 48 in the right-hand direction back toward its or-' iginal position. The differential force of the originally established pressure maintained in the supply pipe 42 and supply passage 65 over the reduced pressure in slide valve chamber 5| holds the check valve. 66 seated and, consequently, the spring can only return the piston 43 and its stem 53 in the right-hand direction until the end of the stem 53 engages the inner seated face of the check valve 66. Such movement of the piston 48 and its stem 53 is sufiicient however to shift the slide valve 52 so as to out off the connection of the passage 39 to the slide valve chamher 5! and to reconnect passage 39 to exhaust port 56 through the cavity 51 in the slide valve.

It will thus be seen that rluid under pressure is exhausted from the chamber 34 at the usual non-pressure side of the brake cylinder piston 27 and that the pressure of equalization previously established between the chambers 32 and 34 on opposite sides of the brake cylinder piston 21 will remain established in the chamber 32 on the pressure side of the piston TI.

The degree of reduction of pressure in the chamber 32 on .the pressure side of the brake cylinder piston 2? depends upon the pressure of equalization between the chambers 32 and 94. It will be obvious that the brake cylinder H may be of different sizes and proportions for, different installations so that the relation between the volume of the chamber 32 and that of the chamber 34, and accordingly the pressure of equalization between the chambers for a given pressure initially established in chamber 32, may vary. The brake cylinder may be of such size and proportions, for-example, that assuming a pressure of seventy-five pounds per square inch pressure to be established in the chamber 32 at the time that slipping of the car wheel I2 occurs, the pressure in the chamber 32 may be reduced, upon equalization flow to the chamber 34, to a pressure of fifty-five pounds per square inch pressure.

Since the pressure in the chamber 32 on the 32 of the brake cylinder II a pressure sufficient to provide adequate braking, the pressure maintaining valve device 46 is provided. If, therefore, the pressure in the chamber'32 of the brake cylinder is reduced below the setting of the pressure maintaining valve device 45 upon the slipping of the car wheel I2, the valve 81 opens to effect the supply of fiuid under pressureyto the chamber 32 in by-passing relation to the check' valve 66 which. remains. seated. As long as the pin valve 6I on the piston 48. is seated however, fluid Lmder pressure cannot be supplied to the chamber 32, fluid under pressure being supplied to the chamber 32 under the control of the pressure maintaining valve device 46 only when the piston 48 moves in the right-hand direction to unseat the pin valve 6I.

The purpose of the pin valve 6| is to prevent the supply of. fluid under pressure to the chamber 32 past the pressure maintaining valve device 46 while chamber 32 is connected to chamber 34 of the brake cylinder II. Obviously, if fluid under pressure were supplied past the pressure maintaining valve device 46 to both chambers 34 and 32, that supplied to chamber 34 would be wasted because the chamber 34. is vented to atmosphere through the exhaust port 56 when the piston 48 is shifted in the right-hand. direction following cessation of wheel-slipping.

The setting of the pressure maintaining valve device 46 is such as to cause seating of the valve 81' in response to a pressure in the chamber 32 of the brake cylinder II which is, under ordinary conditions, insuflicient to cause sliding of the car wheel I2. However, if due to abnormal rail conditions, the car wheel I2 should slip when the pressure established in the chamber 32 in the brake cylinder is less than the setting of the pressure maintaining valve device 46, the pin valve 6I on the piston 48, being seated, is effective to prevent the supply of fluid under pressure to the chamber 32 past the pressure maintaining valve device 46 while the car wheel I2 is I slipping.

It should be kept in mind that the self-lapping brake valve device I4 is effective to maintain a pressure in the supply pipe 42 and supply passage 65 which corresponds to the degree of displacement of the operating handle 4I out of itsnormal release position and that, therefore, should fluid under pressure leak from the brake cylinder chamber 32 during an application of the brakes, the pressure corresponding to the position of the operating handle 4| of the brake valve device I4.

tends to be maintained in the chamber 32 of the brake cylinder. Furthermore, due to the pressure maintaining function of the brake valve device I4, and notwithstanding the supply of fluid under pressure from the supply passage 65 past the pressure maintaining valve device 46 to the chamber 32 of the brake cylinder following cessation of slipping of the car wheel, adequate pressure is maintained on the check valve 66 to maintain it in seated position and thus prevent the restoration of pressure in the brake cylinder chamber 32 to correspond to the original pressure established in the supply pipe 42.

When the brakes are released by operation of the operating handle M of the brake valve device I4 to release position, the reduction in the pressure in passage 65 on the face of the check valve 66 permits the spring 58 to shift the piston 48 into engagement with the annular shoulder 54 .and thereby effect unseating of the check valve 66 against the yielding resistance of the spring II to restore the connection between the passage 65 and the slide valve chamber 5|. Thus fluid under pressure may again be supplied past the check valve 66 to the slide valve chamber 5| and thence to the chamber 32 of the brake cylinder upon reapplication of the brakes in the manner previously described, as long as the car wheel I2 does not slip.

Embodiment. shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 The embodiment'of my invention shown in Figs. 3', 4 and 5 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by the addition of a sanding device I, of the type described and claimed in my copend'ing application Serial No. 176,185, filed November 24, 1937, now Patent 2,155,214, and assigned to the assignee of the present application, arranged to be automatically controlled. It will be understood that other suitable types of sanding devices may be provided instead of the sanding device Hi, the sanding device I4I being shown merely for purposes of illustration.

The sanding device I4I comprises a hopper I42 for containing a supply of sand I43, the hopper 1 I42 having a tubular outlet portion at the lower end thereof on which a sleeve or tube I44 is slidably mounted in concentric relation. The hopper I42 is suitably carried on a part of the car truck, such as the side frame, which has a fixed relation with respect to the track rail and the tube I44 is supported and guided, as by a strut I46 having a guide ring M1 at the end thereof loosely surrounding the tube I44.

Carried on the lower end of the tube I44 is a shoe-nozzle I48, of suitable material such as rubber composition or a soft metal, which is adapted to be yeldingly urged downwardly into sealing contact with the track rail I 49 by a coil spring I5I interposed between a flange I52 on the tube I44 and an annular recess I53 on the hopper I42.

The shoe-nozzle I48 is provided on the lower face thereof with a circular cavity I55 and extending longitudinally of the rail I49 from the cavity is a tapered groove or cavity I56 which opens at the rear end of the shoe-nozzle I48 to simulate a nozzle. As will be seen clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, the end opening of the tapered groove I56 is relatively small compared to the width of the rail I49 and is substantially centrally disposed with respect to the rail.

Sand is supplied by gravity from the hopper I42 and tube I44 to cavity I55 in the shoe-nozzle I48 under the control of a valve I58 which is formed preferably in the shape of an inverted cone and which seats on the lower end of the tube I44. The valve I58 may be operated, in response to the supply of fluid under pressure to a chamber I59 formed in a casing I6I that is suitably supported within the hopper I42. as by a movable abutment such as a piston I62, subject on one side to the pressure in the chamber I59 and having a stem I63, extending downwardly through the tubular portion of the hopper and through the tube I44, to the lower end of which the valve I58 is fixed.

The casing I6I is formed to provide a chamber I on the side of the piston I62 opposite to the chamber I59 and, disposed in the chamber I65 in concentric relation to the stem I63, is a coil spring I66 which yieldingly urges the piston I62 upwardly to effect seating of the valve I58 on the lower end of the tube I44 to prevent the dropping of sand from the tube I44 to the cavity I 55 of the shoe-nozzle I48.

The spring I66 is stronger than the spring I5I so that, when the fluid under pressure is released from chamber I59, the spring I66 is not only effective to seat the valve I58 but also exerts an upward force on the tube I 44 to overcome the spring I 5I and thus raise the shoe-nozzle I48 upwardly out of contact with the track rail I49. Upon the supply of fluid under pressure to the chamber I 59, the pressure acting on the piston I 62 overcomes the spring I56, thus permitting the spring I 5I to urge the tube I44 and shoenozzle I48 downwardly into contact with the track rail I49. Further downward movement of the piston I82, after the shoe-nozzle I48 engages the track rail is effective to unseat the valve I48 and permit the sand from the hopper to fall by gravity into the cavity I55 of the shoenozzle and to be expelled to the rail through the tapered groove I55.

It will be seen that the sanding operation depends on movement of the car, for unless the shoe-nozzle I48 moves along the rail, sand cannot and will not flow out of the tapered groove I56. Furthermore, by laying the sand on the rail in a ribbon or ridge of uniform cross-sectional area, a substantially uniform amount of sand is laid on each unit length of the track rail, for all speeds of travel of the car.

Ihe supply of fluid under pressure to the chamber I59 of the sanding device MI is under the control of the release and reapplication valve device 44 of the valve unit I5, and the release of fluid under pressure from the chamber I59 is efiected under the control of the brake valve device I4.

As will be evident in Fig. 3, the casing I6I forming the chamber I59 is provided with an integrally formed or attached portioncontaining a loaded check valve I7I which is yieldingly biased into seated relation on an annular rib seat I72 by a compression spring I73. On the side of check valve I7I, open to the inner seated area thereof is a chamber I74 which is constantly open to atmosphere through a restricted port I75.

On the opposite side of the check valve I7! is a chamber I75 containing the loading spring I73, chamber I76 being-connected through a passage I77 to the chamber I59, and through a pipe I78 to the supply passage 95 in the casing of the valve unit I6. A one-way or check valve I79, illustrated as of the ball type, is provided to prevent the supply of fluid under pressure from the'supply passage 55 into the pipe I78. The check valve I79 unseats, however, to permit the exhaust of fluid under pressure from the pipe I78 into the supply passage 65.

In operation, whenever the slide valve 52 of the release and reapplication valvle device 44 is shifted in the right-hand direction, in the manner previously described, following cessation of slipping the car wheel I 2, fluid under pressure from the chamber 34 on the usual non-pressure side of the brake cylinder piston 27 is supplied to the chamber I59 of the sanding device MI by way of the passage 38, pipe 35, passage 39, cavity 57 in the slide valve 52, passage and pipe 59, chamber I74, past the check valve I H which is unseated against the yielding resisting force'of the spring I73, chamber I75, and passage I77. The exhaust port I75 from the chamber I74 is sufliciently restricted to cause the pressure to build up in the chamber I74 and thus unseat the check valve I7I. The spring I73 is relatively lightly tensioned and thus the valve I7I opens readily upon the build-up of pressure in chamber I74. Since the spring I73 is lightly tensioned, the pressure established in the chamber I59 of the sanding device I4! will be only slightly lower than the pressure of equalization between the chamber 34 of the brake cylinder and the chamber I59.

When the pressure in the chamber I59 and that in the chamber I74 are substantially equal, the spring I73 causes the check valve I7I tosjeat thereby preventing the back-flow of, fluid under pressure from the chamber I59 through the exhaust port I75. After the check valve I7I seats, the pressure in the chamber 34 on the usual nonpressure side of the brake cylinder piston 27 is gradually exhausted to atmosphere through the restricted port I75. It will thus be apparent that the restricted port I75 delays the reapplication of the brakes on the car wheel which slipped, by delaying the exhaust of pressure from the chamber 34 on the non-pressure side of the brake cylinder piston, thereby adding to the delay effected by the restricted port 58 in the piston 48 of the release and reapplication valve device 44 and ensuring that the car wheel returns fully to vehicle speed before the brakes are re-applied thereon.

The pressure of the fluid acting in the chamber I59 on the piston I62 causes the shoe-nozzle I48 to be lowered into contact with the rail I49 and effects opening of the valve I58, in the manner previously described.

Assuming an adequate supply of sand in the hopperv I42, it will be apparent that as long as the car continues in motion and sufficient pressure is maintained in the chamber I59, the sanding of the rails will continue. Obviously, when the car comes to a stop with the shoe-nozzle I48 remaining in contact with the track rail I49, the sand automatically ceases to flow out of the tapered groove I59 to the rail.

The sanding device MI is operated automatically to prevent the sanding of the rails on starting by operation of the brake valve device I4 to effect release of the brakes. When the operator operates the brake valve I4 to release position, the reduction of the pressure in the supply passage 65 thereby effected permits the check valve I'l9 to unseat and release fluid under pressure from the chamber I59 of the sanding device I4I according to the reduction of the pressure in the supply passage 65. Upon sufficient reduction of the pressure in the chamber I59 of the sanding device MI, the spring I69 shifts the piston I52 upwardly to seat the valve I58 and raise the shoe-nozzle I48 out of contact with the H track rail I49 against the yielding resistance of spring I5I.

Summary Summarizing, it will be seen that I have disclosed a brake equipment adapted to operate to prevent sliding of the car wheels by causing the fluid under pressure on the usual pressure side of the brake cylinder piston to flow rapidly to the space on the usual non-pressure side of the brake cylinder piston and reduce to the pressure of equalization, thus rendering the usual release spring of the brake cylinder effective to return the brake cylinder piston to release position to effect the rapid release of the brakes on a wheel omissions, additions or modifications may be,

made in the embodiments shown without depart ing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, not my intention to limit the scope of my invention except as it is necessitated by the scope of the prior art.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. The method of guarding against sliding of vehicle wheels due to application of brakes thereon by a brake cylinder, which method comprises rapidly balancing the fluid pressure acting on the brake cylinder piston to effect rapid release of the brakes when a Wheel begins to slip, subsequently venting fluid under pressure from one side of the brake cylinder piston to cause reapplication of the brakes, and utilizing the fluid under pressure so vented from the brake cylinder for causing sanding of the road surface on which the wheel rolls.

2. A vehicle brake and sanding equipment comprising a brake cylinder having a piston effective in response to the pressure of fluid acting on one side thereof to cause application of the brakes on a vehicle Wheel, means effective when the wheel slips due to application of the brakes for first rapidly balancing the fluid pressures on opposite sides of the brake cylinder piston to cause release of the brakes and for thereafter venting fluid under pressure from the side of the brake cylinder piston opposite said one side to effect reapplication of the brakes, and means operative in response to the pressure of fluid so vented from the brake cylinder for causing sanding.

3. In combination, a rail-sanding device, means responsive to the slipping of a vehicle wheel, and means controlled by the wheel-slip responsive means and effective when the vehicle wheel returns to a speed corresponding substantially to vehicle speed following slipping thereof for efiecting operation of the rail-sanding device to effect sanding.

4. A vehicle brake and sanding system comprising, in combination, a brake cylinder effective upon the supply of fluid under pressure thereto to effect application of the brakes on a vehicle wheel, means operative when the vehicle wheel slips to so control the pressureof the fluid in the brake cylinder as to cause the brakes on the vehicle wheel to be released and the wheel to return to a speed corresponding to vehicle speed, and operative when the vehicle Wheel returns substantially to a speed corresponding to vehicle speed for so controlling the pressure in the brake cylinder as to effect restoration of an application of the brakes, a sanding device for sanding the track rail along which the wheel rolls, and means eflective when the vehicle wheel returns substantially to a speed corresponding to vehicle speed for effecting operation of said sanding device to sand the track rail.

5. A vehicle brake and sanding system comprising, in combination, means operative to effect application of the brakes on a vehicle wheel, means operative when the vehicle wheel slips due to application of the brakes to effect release of the brakes on the vehicle wheel and reapplication of the brakes to a reduced degree upon the return of the vehicle wheel to a speed corresponding to vehicle speed, a rail-sanding device, and means effective when the vehicle wheel returns to a speed corresponding to vehicle speed following slipping thereof for effecting operation of the sanding device to sand the rail.

6. In a vehicle brake and sanding equipment, in combination, a brake cylinder having a piston shiftable in a direction to effect application of the brakes on a vehicle Wheel upon the supply of fluid under pressure to one side thereof and yieldably urged in the opposite direction to effect the release of the brakes upon substantial equalization of the pressures on opposite sides of the piston, means for causing fluid under pressure to be supplied to the said one side of the brake cylinder piston to effect application of the brakes, means operative upon the slipping of the vehicle wheel for causing fluid under pressure to be supplied from the said one side of the brake cylinder piston to the opposite side thereof to equalize the pressures on opposite sides of the piston and thereby effect the release of the brakes and operative when the vehicle wheel returns to a speed corresponding substantially to vehicle speed following the slipping thereof to release fluid under pressure from the said opposite side of the brake cylinder piston to effect reapplication of the brakes, means providing a chamber into which fluid released from the said opposite side of the brake cylinder piston is received, and a rail-sanding device operated in response to the supply of fluid under pressure to the said chamber to effect the sanding of the track rail.

'7. A vehicle brake and sanding equipment comprising, in combination, a brake cylinder having a piston shiftable in a direction to efiect application of the brakes on a vehicle wheel upon the supply of fluid under pressure to one side thereof and yieldingly urged in the opposite direction to effect release of the brakes upon substantial equalization of the pressure on 0pposite sides of the piston, means for effecting the supply of fluid under pressure to the said one side of the brake cylinder piston to effect ap plication of the brakes, means operative upon the slipping of the vehicle wheel for establishing a communication through which fluid under pressure flows from the said one side to the opposite side of the brake cylinder piston to equalize the pressure on opposite sides thereof and thereby effect the release of the brakes and operative when the vehicle wheel returns to a speed corresponding substantially to vehicle speed for closing said communication and establishing a second communication through which fluid under pressure is released from the opposite side of said brake cylinder piston to effect reapplication of the brakes, a restricted port in said second communication for releasing fluid under pressure from the opposite side of the brake cylinder piston at a relatively slow rate, means providing a chamber, a one-way valve between said port and said chamber effective to permit the supply of fluid under pressure from the said second communication to the said chamber and to prevent back-flow of fluid under pressure from the chamber to the said communication, and a sanding device operatively responsive to the supply of fluid under pressure to said chamber for effecting the sanding of the rails.

8. In a vehicle brake and sanding system, in combination, a brake cylinder having a piston yieldingly urged to a position to effect release of the brakes on a vehicle wheel upon substantial equalization of the fluid pressures on opposite sides of the brake cylinder piston and shiftable in a direction to effect application of the brakes on a vehicle wheel upon the supply of fluid under pressure to one side thereof, a supply passage through which fluid under pressure is supplied to the said one side of the brake cylinder piston, means operative upon the slipping of the of the brake cylinder piston and effective to cause flow of fluid under pressure from the said one side of the brake cylinder piston to the opposite side thereof to equalize the pressures and thereby effect release of the brakes, the last said means being further operative when the wheel returns to a speed corresponding to vehicle speed for releasing fluid under pressure from the side of the brake cylinder piston opposite said one side, means providing a chamber into which fluid under pressure released from the said opposite side of the brake cylinder piston is supplied, a railsanding device operative in response to the supply of fluid under pressure to said chamber to eiTect sanding of the rails, and a one-way valve for preventing the supply of fluid under pressure from said supply passage to said chamber and effective to release fluid under pressure therepast from the said chamber to the said supply passage.

9. An automatic rail-sanding apparatus comprising, in combination, a shoe normally raised out of contact with an associated track rail, and having a substantially horizontal passage therein out of which sand may flow to the rail only upon movement of the shoe along the rail, means responsive to slipping of a vehicle wheel, and means controlled by the wheel-slip responsive means for causing the shoe to be lowered into sliding contact with the rail and for causing sand to be supplied to the passage in the shoe.

10. In combination, a rail sanding device comprising a hopper for containing a supply of sand,

, a nozzle movable into contact with the track rail and having a cavity for receiving sand supplied from said hopper and an exit groove open to the rail through which sand from the cavity in fective upon a variation of pressure acting thereon for causing the nozzle to be lowered into contact with the rail and for operating the said valve to permit sand to flow from the hopper to the cavity in said nozzle and thence through the exit groove to the track rail upon movement of the vehicle, means responsive to the slipping of a vehicle wheel, and means controlled by the wheel-slip responsive means for effecting a. variation of pressure acting on thefluid pressure operated means to cause the nozzle to be shifted into contact with the track rail and to cause said valve to be operated to admit sand from the hopper to the cavity in the nozzle.

11. In combination, a, rail-sanding device comprising a hopper for containing a supply of sand, a nozzle movable from a normal position out of contact with the rail into contact with the rail, said nozzle having a cavity open to the rail for supplying sand received in the cavity from the said hopper to the rail, a valve for controlling V the supply of sand from the hopper to the cavity zle and to shift the nozzle out of contact with the track rail upon the reduction of the pressure in the said chamber below a certain uniform pressure, means automatically operative upon the return of the vehicle wheel to a rotative speed corresponding to vehicle speed following slipping thereof to supply fluid under pressure to said chamber at a pressure in excess of said certain uniform pressure, and manually operable meanscontrolling the release of fluid under pressure from said chamber. BURTON S; AIKMAN. 

